Prescribing Fruit and Veg – A New Model for the NHS?
Oct 22, 2023
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This podcast explores the concept of prescribing fruits and vegetables as a new model for the NHS, prioritizing disease prevention and changing lifestyles. It discusses a pilot public health scheme in south east London that is prescribing fresh fruit & veg to people with chronic disease and mental health conditions. The episode highlights the success of prescribing fruit and vegetables for diet-related health conditions and proposes nationwide implementation of this model. It also focuses on community engagement, preventive care, and finding solutions for health services.
The Lambeth Medical Team in South London is using unconventional locations like barbershops and social supermarkets to engage the community in their health and well-being by offering blood pressure checks and vouchers for fresh fruits and vegetables.
By collaborating with local businesses and addressing social conditions that impact health, the Lambeth Medical Team has successfully reached and engaged men and African and Caribbean communities who are often difficult to reach, demonstrating the potential for healthcare to extend beyond the doctor's office and tackle health inequalities.
Deep dives
Healthcare in Lambeth: Taking a Preventative Approach to Improve Health
In this podcast episode, the focus is on changing the approach to healthcare by prioritizing disease prevention. Most patients walking into a GP's office suffer from ailments related to their lifestyle and diet. The Lambeth Medical Team in South London has launched community hubs, including unconventional locations like barbershops and social supermarkets, to reach the community and engage them in their health and well-being. They provide blood pressure checks and offer vouchers that can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. By tackling health issues early and promoting healthier diets, the Lambeth project aims to reduce the burden on the NHS and improve overall community health.
Creating Trust and Engaging Communities in Health Initiatives
The Lambeth Medical Team focuses on building trust within the community to successfully implement their health initiatives. They collaborate with local businesses, such as barbershops and community centers, to reach a broader demographic. By working with trusted faces in trusted places, they have been able to engage men, African and Caribbean communities, who are often difficult to reach. By offering blood pressure checks, providing vouchers, and promoting lifestyle changes, they empower individuals to take charge of their health. Their approach proves that health care can extend beyond the doctor's office and address the social conditions that impact health.
Scaling Up and Impacting Health Inequalities
The success of the Lambeth Medical Team's approach to healthcare has shown the potential to be scaled up and address health inequalities on a larger scale. By providing vouchers and access to healthy food options at affordable prices, they have made a positive impact on the health of the community. The pilot fruit and vegetable prescription program, funded through the public health budget, has shown promising results in improving the health outcomes of participants with chronic conditions. Looking to the future, the Lambeth Council aims to expand these initiatives and make health a priority at the grassroots level, tackling socio-economic barriers to better health.
A pilot public health scheme in south east London is prescribing fresh fruit & veg to people with chronic disease and mental health conditions. Sheila Dillon meets Dr Chi-Chi Ekhator, an NHS GP and lead at the A.T Beacon Project, to hear how the prescriptions are working, and how it’s a part of their mission to bring healthcare out of GP surgeries and into the heart of Lambeth’s most hard-to-reach communities.
Presented by Sheila Dillon and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol
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